marx's philosophical views

[Angry Young Man]

did marx ever write on epistemology or ethics? im pretty sure he was an empiricist, and he'll have obviously had ethical views, im just not sure what they are.

[redstar2000]

I must confess that I am ignorant of such writings if they exist.

I would suggest having a look at the Marxists Internet Archive (http://www.marxists.org/) at Marx's writings prior to 1850 and seeing what turns up.

Here's the date index...

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/date/index.htm

Good luck.

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif

[Monty Cantsin]

He wrote about epistemology , i.e german ideology and Theses on Feuerbach, which sums it up well. It featured highly in his works because of the materialist conception of history which took the production and reproduction of life as its centre. Thus the individual and its consciousness come into play which means he needed an epistemological theory.

His work contains ethical elements and value judgments but he never wrote about ethics in its own language and directly.

[RevolverNo9]

It is my belief that every serious student of Marx's thought should aquire themselves a volume of 'Early Works'. A sincere understanding of the philisophical foundation of Marxism is vital if one is to avoid the tyrrany of abstracted, structural philosophy that has obscured progressive thought.


im pretty sure he was an empiricist

Marx's philosophy was empirically informed, but he was certainly not an empiricist, ie. an individual who believes that the only knowledge which is valid is that which is obtained through observation. Empiricism would render all a priori knowledge null; no historical materialism, certainly no dialectical materialism, no outline of future society and, hey, it even has trouble with maths.

[Angry Young Man]

Originally posted by [email protected] 26 2006, 07:49 PM



Empiricism has trouble with maths.
but when you do a mathematical problem, you split it into easy numbers that you learnt how to equate in the reception year by counting fingers.

[Janus]

Marx wrote about ethics a little in Human Requirements and Division of Labour Under the Rule of Private Property which is part of the Economic & Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 collection.

[ComradeRed]

Empiricism doesn't really have too much "trouble" with math. Indeed, Wittgenstein freed it from the clutches of Platonism.

Regardless "doing" math shouldn't be hindered by "thinking" about math. :)

[Chrysalis]

Chairmanmick,


did marx ever write on epistemology or ethics? im pretty sure he was an empiricist, and he'll have obviously had ethical views, im just not sure what they are.

Though Marx would not call himself an empiricist, he could be categorized in epistemology as a verificationist (positive science). As far as ethics, he is probably an absolutist, in the sense that ultimately there is such a thing as essence of an individual (his material life, self-activity, intercourse with other individuals). And insofar as this very nature of man is violated, there is injustice.